The Ministry of Works and Transport has promised to restore street lighting along the Kampala Northern Bypass by the end of October 2026 following widespread vandalism and damage to lighting installations. The breakdown has left several sections of the busy road in darkness, raising concerns about the safety of motorists, pedestrians and passengers who use the route, especially at night.
The streetlights were installed less than a year ago to improve visibility and make travelling along the bypass safer. However, many of them have stopped working after thieves reportedly stole electrical components and other materials needed to keep the lighting system operational. The situation has frustrated road users who expected the new installations to improve security and reduce the risks associated with driving at night.
The darkness has also raised fears of robbery and other criminal activities along some sections of the bypass. Taxi drivers say some passengers are increasingly reluctant to use particular parts of the road after sunset because they fear being attacked. The concerns have renewed calls for urgent intervention to restore lighting and improve security along the major transport route.
Ministry of Works and Transport spokesperson Khadija Nnakakande attributed much of the damage to vandalism, explaining that thieves have targeted cables, circuits, terminal blocks and other electrical components. She said some criminals even dig underground to remove wiring connecting streetlight poles, leaving the installations unable to function. The stolen materials are reportedly sold as scrap, despite the public cost of installing and maintaining the infrastructure.
Nnakakande identified areas around Kyebando and sections near flyovers as some of the worst-affected locations. She explained that the ministry was facing a major challenge because the theft had affected several installations rather than a few individual poles. The widespread damage has made it difficult to maintain consistent lighting along the bypass, leaving motorists to navigate some sections with limited visibility.
Apart from vandalism, the ministry is also dealing with streetlight poles damaged by road accidents. According to Nnakakande, some poles are knocked down by drivers, including those suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol. When one pole is damaged, several connected lights can also be affected, sometimes leaving an entire section without lighting and increasing the cost and scale of repairs.
The ministry has now started repair work and expects the affected streetlights to be restored before the end of October. Nnakakande appealed to members of the public to protect government infrastructure, warning that the installations had not even lasted a year before being vandalised. She emphasised that the lights were intended to benefit road users and that destroying them undermines efforts to improve safety for everyone.
The planned restoration is expected to improve visibility and provide some relief to motorists, taxi operators and pedestrians who depend on the Northern Bypass. However, preventing further vandalism will remain essential if the lighting system is to serve its intended purpose. The ministry’s appeal highlights the need for greater public responsibility and cooperation in protecting public infrastructure so that the road can remain safer for all users, particularly during night-time travel.
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